USC to activate subsidies on basic food items from Jan 1

Available for those registered with BISP, whose poverty index is equal to or below PMT-32

ISLAMABAD:

In view of the difficulties and hardship being faced by citizens, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the provision of targeted subsidies on basic food items through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).

According to a press statement issued on Saturday, the USC, under the Prime Minister Relief Package, will provide subsidised essential food items from January 1, 2023 across the country. Subsidies will be given on basic items including flour, sugar, ghee, rice, and pulses.

The subsidy will be available for consumers enrolled in the Benazir Income support Programme (BISP) and whose poverty index score is equal to or below PMT-32.

For BISP registered consumers, flour will be available at Rs400 per 10 kg bag, ghee Rs300 per kg and sugar for Rs70 per kg, giving relief of Rs15 to Rs20 on rice and pulses per kg. There will, however, be a fixed monthly purchase limit and each consumer will be able to purchase 40kg of flour, 5kg sugar and 5kg ghee a month.

All other USC customers will also be provided with subsidies on these five food items under the package. For these customers, however, flour will be provided at Rs648 per 10 kg bag, ghee Rs375 per kg and sugar at Rs89 per kg. The discount of Rs15 to Rs20 per kg on the purchase of pulses and rice will also be given to consumers who are not registered with BISP.

The monthly purchase limit for these consumers has also been set according to which they can buy 20kg of flour, 3kg sugar and 3kg ghee.

For the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), flour will be provided at the rate of Rs400 per 10 kgs at all the sales points and mobile stores established on the instruction of the prime minister.